How to set up your base camp

For many climbing and hiking expeditions, especially those tackling more arduous and difficult routes, a base camp is a fantastic option for supporting your efforts.

Setting up a base camp, or even establishing a staging area for your adventures, requires a lot of planning and consideration. We’ve highlighted some of the key things to keep in mind when getting one set up.

What is a base camp?

Base camps serve as a starting point and support area for expeditions. Many famous mountaineering destinations, such as Everest, have basecamps that serve as places to begin an ascent from.

They provide shelter from difficult conditions. This helps adventurers to recharge and prepare without having to deal with harsh weather conditions or extreme temperatures.

A base camp can also be somewhere a trek returns to. A starting point for different trips that serves as a storage area, and a preparation space for walkers to get ready for their next trip.

These camps can be larger, more well equipped and more comfortable than the camps an adventurer might build while out in the wilderness. This is because they’re designed to be more robust and long-lasting.

What a base camp needs

A base camp is a starting point and preparation area. It should contain more equipment than a standard campsite and everything you need to make sure that whatever journey you’re undertaking can be completed effectively.

This includes:

Food

Medical supplies

Spare equipment, such as climbing gear and walking boots

Camping equipment

Communication equipment

Itineraries

This should be somewhere that people can prepare for a journey or resupply before the next stage of their trip. So, it is important to ensure your camp is well stocked and able to support your adventure.

When you’re planning your adventure, if you’re setting up a base camp, it’s definitely worthwhile thinking about how easy it will be to keep it well supplied. For instance, if you’re on an excursion, like exploring a large area from a base camp for a few months, you could set up your base of operations somewhere that can be reached by road, air or water. This would allow you to resupply if needed, and also provide support in an emergency.

Supplies for a basecamp

Any supplies for your base camp should be stored in a way that maximises their benefit to the people using them.

Equipment should be stored in a way that keeps it safe and dry, and food should be long lasting and easy to store without needing refrigeration.

Canned, dried and freeze-dried foods are great for a base camp as they are self-contained and can last for a long time. These items are relatively easy to transport in bulk, and don’t take up much space. This can be a huge benefit in cramped conditions, or in situations where you have a lot of equipment to accommodate.

Freeze-dried meals are a fantastic option for food to take away from the camp too, due to them being lightweight and easy to prepare.

This means that even when you’re away from your base camp you can still maintain a decent level of nutrition.

How Summit To Eat can help fuel your next adventure?

On a long trip it’s important to know you have the support you need to get through long days and difficult conditions. Base camps provide a lot of this, but you also need to know that the equipment you have with you, when you’re away from camp, provides exactly what you need.

One key element of your gear is your food supply. It can be a huge boost to morale and motivation knowing you have access to a hearty and delicious meal whenever you need it.

Summit To Eat can help make your adventures much more enjoyable and easy to prepare for. We provide a wide range of freeze-dried meals that can be the perfect addition to your adventure preparation. They can also be a great way to end a tiring day with some familiar home comforts, or to start your day with a breakfast that’s packed with nutrition. All our meals and ingredients are:

Freeze-dried to create a lightweight, easy to store meal

Easy to prepare – simply add water to the pouch and wait for the meal to rehydrate

Expertly cooked prior to being freeze-dried, ensuring they taste fantastic

Nutritious – bursting with carbohydrates and protein to give you energy and keep you feeling satisfied

To find out more about our range of freeze-dried adventure foods, take a look at our meals page, or contact us to speak to a member of our dedicated team.